Multiple-unit door-control system



F. HEDLEYET AL MULTIPLE UNIT DOOR CONTROL SYSTEM Feb. 24. 1925.

Filed Sept. 50. 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 5 ATTORNEY Feb. 24.- 1 925.

F. HEDLEY ET AL MULTIPLE UNIT DOOR CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Sept. 30. 1910 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

warren sra'rss PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK HEIDLEY, or YONKERS, AND JAMES s. DOYLE, or MT. vnnnon, new roan.

liIUL-TIPLE-UNIT DOOR-CONTROL SYSTEHT.

Application filed September 30,1919. Serial No. 327,575.

To a whom it may concern Be it known that we, F RANK I'IEEDLEY and JAMns S. Dorm both citizens of the United States and residents, respectively, of Yonle ers and Mount Vernon, county of Westchester, State of New York, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Multiple-Unit Door-Control Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical controlling means for simultaneously controlling the opening and closing movements of the doors of a car or train of cars from a single control station.

The object of the invention is to provide means on a station platform for controlling the opening and closing movements of all of the doors on a train of cars or on a single car. a

A further object of the invention is to provide means on a platform for simultaneously opening or closing all of the doors on a single car or on a train of cars.

A further object of the invention is to provide means on a platform for simultaneously opening and closing all of the doors of any car or train of cars.

A further object of the invention is to provide means which are simple of structure, efficient of operation and economical of manufacture, installation and mainte nance for accomplishing the above objects.

Further objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

' The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown by the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings 1- Fig. 1 is a diagramn'iatic view of the electric circuits and mechanism and their rela tive positions employed in accordance with our invention.

Fig. l is a continuation of Fig. 1 showing our invention applied to a, train of three cars. V V

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the mechanism employed in accordance with our invention for controlling the side of the car upon which the doors will be controlled in accordance with our invention.

The same part is designated by the same reference character wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

It is among the special purposes of our invention to provide means which are eiiicient in operation and simple in arrangement for allowing all of the doors on any one car or on all of the cars to be controlled from a station. platform or any station for any purpose. For example we have shown and will now describe our invention as applied to electric railway systems such as subways or underground systems, but we do not desire to be limited or rest 'icted in this respect as the same is applicable for use in connection with any system where pneumatic or other type of motors are controlled .by an electric device, for example, such as a magnet valve. The control may be effected in the example selected for illustration from any suitable position or location, but we have found it satisfactory and preferable to lo- -may simultaneously open all of the doors of the car or a train of cars, as the case may ;be, or he may selectively open the doors on any one particular car. We further propose,

in accordance with our invention, to provide means whereby the doors on the station side of the car or train of cars are automatically rendered responsive to the control station while the doors on the opposite side of the car or train of cars are rendered unresponsive to the control members.

Referring to F igs. 1 and 1, we show a train of three cars but we desire to have it understood that we are not to be limited or restricted in this respect as the doors of only one car may he as effectively controlled as the doors on any number of cars. cars are diagrammatically illustrated at l and run in the usual manner on tracks, not shown, past the station which is diagrammatically illustrated at 2. Each car is provided with magnet valves or similar electrical devices for controlling the operation of the door operating motors. Our invention does not reside in the particular type of electric device employed or in the particular type of motor employed for actuating the door The and these parts consequently, being well known, have not been illustrated. l-Ve have shown, however, the car as being provided with opening devices 3 which are electrically controlled and which, when energized, initiate the opening movement of the. door. The car is similarly equipped with similar devices l which when energized initiate the closing movement of the door. The opening devices 3 are connected in parallel with each other and are all included in a circuit controlled by a switch which when closed establishes circuit connection between magnet devices 3 and contact terminal 6. The switch 5 if desired may in a like manner control one o' more of the closing magnet devices or, if desired, a plurality of switches 7 may be employed one for each door, that is, one for each closing device rt. With the preferred arrangement we employ one switch 5 as shown for simultaneously controlling all of the opening magnets thereby and a separate switch for each closiug magnet utilizing in this instance the switch 5 for controlling one of the closing magnets. The switches 5 and 7 are controllcd by the door movement in a manner well understood and forming no part of the present invention and consequently not shown, whereby, when the door is in its open position the switches 7 and switch 5 are in circuital relation with the closing magnets l, as indicated by the dotted lines and when the door is in its closed position the circuit is broken between the terminal 6 and the o ening magnets 4 and circuit connection is established through switch 5 between the switch 6 and the opening magnets 3. The equipment thus far described is duplicated at opposite sides of the car so that the doors on either side of the car may be controlled according to which side thereof it is desired to discharge or take on passengers. The car is equipped with a shoe 8 adapted to make sliding contact with a contact rail 9. which rail is preferably located on the track bed for the car or train either at the side of or beyond the car tracks. The shoe 8 is connected with an automatic switch indicated at 10 and which will be more fully hereinafter described so that circuital connection is established between the shoe 8 and the terminal 6 of either side of the car, accord ing to which side of the car the station 2 is located or according to which side of the car it is desired to open the doors when the *ar comes to rest. Current is supplied to the rail 9 from the station platform By the term station platform it is understood that we do not intend to be limited to any particular type of platform or station as by this term we merely wish to designate a stopping place for the car, whether or not there be a platform and whether or not if a platform employed it is raised or on the level with the ground. It is understood that there is a separate rail 9 employed for each car, that is, where a train of cars are employed a short section of ail is provided for each car and said sections are spaced apart from each other in accordance with the length of the cars. A connecting wire 12 connects the rail 9 of each car with a contact 13 of a switch 1&1 mounted at the station. The switch l l is controlled in any suitable manner, for example, manually by means of a switch arm 15, current being supplied from a current source 16, one terminal of which is grounded as illustrated. A shunt circuit is provided for all of the lines 12 to the current source about the switch l t. as illustrated by the lines 15*, which shunt circuit is controlled by a multiple switch 16, the operation of which closes the cir-' cuit to all of the lines 12 from the current source 16, as will be readily understood. The automatic switch 10 referred to above is shown more in detail in Figure and consists of a radial member 20 in rocking contact with the surface of which is provided the member 21, rocking movement of the member 21 being permitted about its axis 22 located adjacent the radial member 20. The top surface of member 20 is flat and the bottom surface of the member 21 is composed of two flat surfaces of arms 2%. and 25, which surfaces are located in angular planes relative to each other. The opposite ends of the members 20 and 21 are connected by means of a spring which gives the arrangement a toggle effect, whereby, when the member 21 is rocked in one direction the axis of the spring is disposed beyond the axis of pivotal movement of the member 21, whereby the member 21 is maintained in its rocked position.

As above described the sliding shoe 8 is in circuital connection with the member 21 and the free ends 2 1 and 25 of the member 21 are adapted to come into circuit contact with the terminals 6, which tQl-lHlntLlS control the magnet devices on opposite sides of the car as above explained. The automatic switch 10 may be controlled in any suitable manner, for example. by means of trippers 3O properly located between the tracks, for example, at the entrance of the station area thereof. The trippers are disposed selectively to extend into the path of the rocker arm or extension of member 21, so as to rock the automatic switch member 10 in one direction or the other according to which side of the car the doors are desired to be operated as the train moves into the station.

The operation of the system thus far described is as follows: Assume that it is desired to operate the doors on the side of the car towards the bottom of the drawings. The car or train of cars pulling into the station has had its automatic switches rocked till the station side of said car.

to establish circuital connection between the shoes 8 of all of the cars and the contact terminal controlling the magnet devices 3 and l on the station side of the car or train of cars. To open the doors on that side of the car or train of cars, the multiple switch 16" is operated, thereby supplying current to all of the rails 9, from the current source 16 through multiple switch 16, connecting wires connecting wires 12, rails 9, shoes 8, contact terminals 6, switches 5, to the opening magnets 3, thereby causing all of the doors on the station side of the car or train of cars to open. hen it is desired to close the doors on the cars the manual switch 16 is operated to establish circuit connection between the source 16, switch 16 lines 12, rail 9, shoes 8, contact terminals 6, and the doors reaching their open position having caused the switches 5 and 7 to establish connection with the magnet valves l, through the magnet valves ito ground to cause the doors to close. It will be apparent that we provide one line i 12 for each car of the train or each rail 9 our invention as defined in the claims, therefore, having set forth the objects and nature of our invention, and having shown and de scribed constructions embodying the principles thereof, what we claim as new and useful and of our own invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a car and car station, of electrical devices located on opposite sides of the car for controlling the door movements on that side of the car, a separate circuit for controlling the devices on each side of the car, a source of current, and mechanically movable means for automatically connecting said source of current with the circuit controlling the devices on 2. The combination with a car and car station, of electrical devices located on opposite sides of the car for controlling the door movements on that side of the car, a separatecircuit for controlling the devices on each side of the car, a source of current, and mechanically movable means positioned in the path of travel of the car for automatically connecting said source of current with the circuit controlling the devices on the station side of the car.

3. The combination with a car and car posite sides of the car for controlling the door movements on that side of the car, a separate circuit for controlling the devices on each side of the car, a source of current, an automatic switchrfor establishing circuit connection between said current source and one or the other of said circuits, and means for actuating said switch for closing the circuit between the current source and the circuit of the devices on the station side of the car.

4. The combination with a car and car station, of electrical devices located on opposite sides of the car for controlling the door movements on that side of the car, a separate circuit for controlling the devices on each side of the car, a source of current, an automatic switch for establishing circuit connection between said current source and one or the other of said circuits, and means positioned in the path of travel of the car for actuating said switch for closing the circuit between the current source and the circuit of the devices on the station side of the car. 7

5. The combination with a car and car station, of electrical devices located on opposite sides of the car for controlling the door movements on that side of the car, a separate circuit for controlling the devices on each side of the car, a source of current, an automatic switch for establishing circuit connection between said current source and one or the other of said circuits, and a tripping device for actuating said switch for closing the circuit between the current source and the circuit of the devices on the station side of the car.

6. The combination with a car and car station, of electrical devices located on opposite sides of the car for controlling the door movements on that side of the car, a separate circuit for controlling the devices on each side of the car, a source of current, an automatic switch for establishing circuit connection between said current source and one or the other of said'circuits, and a tripping device positioned in the path of travel of the car at a point in advance of the station for actuating said switch for closing the circuit between the current source and the circuit of the devices on the station side of the car.

7. The combination with a train of cars and a station external to the train, of electrical devices for each car and located on opposite sides thereof for controlling the door movements on each side of the respective cars, a separate circuit for controlling the devices on each side of each car, a common source of current, and mechanically movable means for connecting said source of current with the circuits of all of the cars 011 the same side thereof.

8. The combination with a train of cars and a station, of electrical devices for each car and located on opposite sides thereof for ill) liiO

controlling the door movements on each side of the respective cars, a separate circuit for controlling the devices on each side of each car, a common source of current, and mechanically movable means for automatically connecting said source of current with the circuits on all of the cars on the side thereof.

9. The combination with a train of cars and a station, of electrical devices for each war and located on opposite sides thereof for controlling the door movements on each side of the respective cars, a separate circuit for controlling the devices on each side of each car, a common source of current, and mechanically movable means positioned in the path of travel of the train for automatically connecting said source of current with the circuits of all of the cars-on the station side thereof.

10. The combination with a train of cars and a station, of electrical devices for each car and located on opposite sides thereof for controlling the door movements on each side of the respective cars, a separate circuit for controlling the devices on each side of each car, a common source of current, an automatic switch for establishing circuit connection between said current source and all of the circuits on one side or the other of said train, and means for actuating said switch for closing the circuit between the current source and the circuits of all of said cars on the station side of said train.

11. The combination with a train of cars and a station, of electrical devices for each car and located on opposite sides thereof for controlling the door movements on each side of the respective cars, a separate circuit for controlling the devices on each side of each car, a common source of current, an automatic switch for establishing circuit connection between said current source and all of the circuits on one side or the other of said train, and means positioned in thepath of travel of the train for actuating aid switch for closing the circuit between the current source and the circuits of all of said cars on the station side of said train.

The combination with a train of cars and astation, ofelectrical devices for each car and located on opposite sides thereof for controlling the door movements on each side of the respective cars, a separate circuit for controlling the devices on each side of each car, a common source of current, an automatic switch for establishing circuit connection between said current source and all of the circuits on one side or the other of said train, and a tripping device for actuating said switch for closing the circuit between the current source and the circuits of all of said cars on the station side of said train.

13. The combination with a train of cars and a station, of electrical devices for each car and located on opposite sides thereof for controlling the door movements on each side of the respective cars, a separate circuit for controlling the devices on veach side of each 0211, 2L COnllTlOn COHI'CG Of current, an ilLl tO- ma-tic switch for establishing circuit connection between said current source and all of the circuits on one side or the other of said train, and a tripping device positioned in the path of travel of the train at a point in advance of the station for actuating said switch for closing the circuits of all of said cars on the station side of said train.

1a. In a car door mechanism, the combination with a plurality of car doors and motors therefor, of electric means for controlling theioperation of said door motors from a single point, switches located in the circuits to the respective door motors, and pivoted arms mounted on the car and adapted to operate said switches by engaging an object along the track.

15. In a car door mechanism, the combination with a plurality of car doors and motors therefor, of electric means for controlling the operation of said door motors from a single point, switches located in the circuits to the respective door motors, and means mounted on the car and adapted to operate said switches by engaging an object on the track.

16. In a car door mechanism, the con'ibination with a plurality of car doors and motors therefor, of electric means for controlling the operation of said .door motors from a single point, switches located in the circuits to the respective door motors, and means mounted on the car and adapted to operate said switches by engagingan object exterior to. the car.

17. Ina car door mechanism, the con bination with a plurality of car doors and motors therefor, of electric means for controlling the operation of said door motors from asingle point, switches located in the circuits to the respective door motors, and means for controlling said switches by the passage of the car over a predetermined portion of the car track.

18. In acar door operating mechanism, the combination with. a plurality of car doors and'motors therefor, of tilting switch ,meansgoverned by-tlie relation between the car; and a portion of the car track for controlling the oper-ation of the motors.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set ourhands on this 24th day of September A. 1)., 1919.

FRANK HEDLEY. JAMES S. DOYLE. 

